Wednesday 19 November 08 - 22:40
 

Area Survey: Western Mediterranean

  • A bit of foresight needed

    24 Oct 2008

    Larger, newer terminals in the western Mediterranean are helping to address an issue that should be of concern to all terminal operators – how to rationalise the speed of growth in ship capacity with that of the terminals they must use.  

  • Stepping on the gas

    22 Oct 2008

    Italy’s largest seaport is poised to become even more significant with the announcement of European funding to develop a liquefied natural gas terminal with an annual capacity of 1.2m cu m. 

  • Shape shifter

    20 Oct 2008

    The western Mediterranean is undergoing a metamorphosis and not all ports will survive the transformation, as Stuart Pearcey reports  

Bulk Handling: Grabs

Container Handling: Reachstackers

  • Small steps

    15 Oct 2008

    Training drivers to use reachstackers more efficiently is just one way to cost effectively improve productivity, as Alex Hughes reports  

Container Handling: Ship-to-shore Cranes

  • Size matters

    13 Oct 2008

    Stephanie Knight finds that ship-to-shore crane manufacturers are already thinking beyond the 'standard' 22 container outreach  

Container Handling: Straddle Carriers

  • Carrying the load

    17 Oct 2008

    The popular reackstacker isn't always the right tool for the job; low volume operators should weigh by the merits of straddle carriers instead. Alex Hughes reports
     

Environment: Energy Saving Innovations

  • Energy sapper

    16 Oct 2008

    While once-upon-a-time any commitment to reducing energy consumption was viewed as purely a way to portray a company’s “green credentials”, with the high cost of fuel these days it is now more a commercial necessity and never before has the adoption of new energy-efficient technologies made good business sense.  

  • A watery solution to cut costs

    14 Oct 2008

    Associated British Ports (ABP), which received recommendations from the Carbon Trust, implementation of which resulted in an immediate 8% saving in energy consumption, has carried out extensive work to its water supply systems.  

  • Ecodrive your way to energy savings

    09 Oct 2008

    According to an International Transport Forum study published in May, ecodriving has become a key element of national strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in a number of countries. 

  • Turn out the light

    07 Oct 2008

    For little or no cost, ports can saves thousands by optimising the way they use energy, but key to it all is awareness and communication, as Patrik Wheater finds out  

In Focus: Crane Customer Service Crisis

  • One rule

    23 Oct 2008

    Do large operators get preferential service agreements with the Asia crane manufaturers? Alex Hughes talks to DP World to investigate  

  • Winter of discontent

    21 Oct 2008

    Poor after sales service could be undermining the economics of Asian cranes, as Alex Hughes reports 

Insight & Opinion

  • Star performer

    29 Oct 2008

    No one wants to contribute to talking ourselves into a recession, least of all this column, but given that we are now genuinely experiencing a rough ride in financial and economic terms it does seem appropriate to highlight the importance of achieving a consistently good performance in the port industry, an industry which, bottom line, is service oriented. 

  • The idiot's guide to recession riding

    22 Oct 2008

    Are you bombproof? Can you weather these times of economic and financial turbulence? A few suggestions that might help and if some are a little tongue in cheek then the times dictate the need for humour too! So here’s what to have in your recession survival kit:  

  • Could a third stevedore reduce long-term competition in Sydney?

    15 Oct 2008

    As Port Botany's third terminal expansion project moves into its dredging phase, debate about the potential flow-on effects of introducing a third stevedore into the Sydney container scene has taken some interesting turns.  

  • Is it worth gambling on war risk insurance?

    08 Oct 2008

    Whatever happened in recent weeks at the Georgian port of Poti, it gave everyone in the formerly economically buzzing facility quite a fright. Russian troops swept into the Black Sea town to destroy military installations and loot port authority buildings, according to the Georgian officials, and US diplomats alleged a blockade. Moscow denied overstepping the mark.  

  • Winners and losers

    08 Oct 2008

    There has been a flurry of activity recently on the part of shipping lines either individually or collectively rationalising service networks or announcing their withdrawal from them. Underpinning this is the slump in world trade, a steadily increasing gap between available liner capacity and demand, and freight rates which on key trade lanes such as Asia-Europe have gone into freefall.

     

  • Enlightened thinking on state-side PPP

    01 Oct 2008

    Port Strategy articles on financial subjects, including a few I have written, invariably include some mention of public-private partnerships, which have enabled ports around the world to modernise and cope with increases in trade flows. Each mention of PPP is a tacit acknowledgement that the private sector (with proper oversight) handles businesses-like functions better than governmental entities. 

  • The end of an era in Europe

    24 Sep 2008

    October 17th marks the end of the block exemption for liner shipping conferences in the European Union. The shipping companies will be forced to comply with anti trust laws in line with all other industries. 

Legal & Insurance: UK Watch

  • Enjoy the holiday

    01 Oct 2008

    When it comes to the UK Marine Bill’s provisions, Louise Gowman’s advice to ports is: “Enjoy the holiday while it lasts!"  

  • Control at a price

    29 Sep 2008

    The UK’s Marine Bill promises ports a streamlined planning process – surely something to be welcomed in an industry used to fighting its way through a planning quagmire. So what’s the catch? Felicity Landon reports 

  • Money pit

    26 Sep 2008

    To pay or not to pay? The row over massive backdated business rates demands that broke out in Hull this summer is set to roll its way round the UK. Felicity Landon reports on the legal implications  

News Africa

  • Bribery rampant in Ghana's ports

    14 Oct 2008

    Ghana's Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways has conceded that there is massive bribery, pilfering and corruption in the local ports industry.  

  • SA Ports' new technology goes live

    05 Oct 2008

    A cutting-edge automated gate is now in operation at the Pier 1 Container Terminal in Durban.  

  • Skills shortage in South African ports

    05 Oct 2008

    Implementation of a $1.24bn expansion project by South Africa's Transnet Port Terminals is being hampered by a critical skills shortage.  

  • Lobito modernised

    04 Oct 2008

    Modernisation has begun off Angola's Lobito Commercial Port at a cost of $1.8bn. New infrastructure is planned, while existing installations are to be upgraded. 

  • Kenya relieves ports chief

    02 Oct 2008

    Kenya Ports Authority managing director Abdallah Mwaruwa has been relieved of his command by the country's prime minister.  

  • Madagascar mining

    30 Sep 2008

    A small port being built in the south of Madagascar by a subsidiary of mining group Rio Tinto will be operated by UK port consultancy Portia and Australia’s Strang Logistics, which joined forces to bid for the concession. The two partners are in detailed negotiations, having been awarded the contract.   

News Americas

  • Limón concession desperately needed to boost efficiency

    07 Oct 2008

    Costa Rica's Atlantic Port Authority (Japdeva) is seeking to implement privatisation of Limón Port by the end of the current year to improve the short term outlook for the port.  

  • Delay in El Salvador privatisation

    07 Oct 2008

    A two-month delay in privatising El Salvador's La Unión-Acajutla port system, after one of the parties in the ruling coalition raised serious objections to bidding rules, has pushed the tender back to mid-October. 

  • Buenos Aires concessions to be lengthened

    29 Sep 2008

    Argentina's General Ports Administration has confirmed that, with government support, it is prepared to extend concession periods of port terminals in the so-called Puerto Nuevo district of Buenos Aires.  

  • Buenaventura Bay container clamour

    28 Sep 2008

    Construction has begun on a new dedicated container terminal in Buenaventura Bay, close to the existing facilities in Colombia.  

  • Callao will reach capacity limit in 2010

    25 Sep 2008

    Lima's chamber of commerce has warned that Callao port will reach full capacity by 2010 and that investment in alternative outlets such as Paita and Pisco must be speeded up to help manage traffic. Even a new development being funded by DP World is still seen as insufficient to cater for predicted demand. 

  • South American trade body in offing

    23 Sep 2008

    A formal invitation to set up a regional trade body for private port companies throughout South America was made at the TOC Market Briefing in Guayaquil September 17. 

  • US West Coast box decline

    17 Sep 2008

    In the first seven months, container traffic at the port of Seattle was down 8% to 1.02bn teu. At Los Angeles and Long Beach, there were downturns of 6.1% and 9.4% respectively to 4.5m teu and 3.7m teu. 

  • Valparaiso contractor questions delay project

    17 Sep 2008

    A major overhaul of Valparaíso port facilities will be delayed until 2009, due to uncertainty over current contractor Von Appen’s future participation in the process. 

  • Georgia Ports pushes ahead on ID scheme

    16 Sep 2008

    Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has confirmed it will require all workers at the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to hold Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) from as early as December 2008.  

  • Punta Colonet threatened by land dispute

    10 Sep 2008

    In an early blow to its ambitious megaport programme at Punta Colonet, Mexico's federal government will have to negotiate with Mexican mining group GML to resolve land disputes related to the $4.86bn multimodal port project in Baja California state, maritime expert Juan Carlos Merodio has said. 

News Asia

  • China Shipping terminal shift

    20 Oct 2008

    China Shipping Container Lines is to assume control of China Shipping Terminal Developer from its parent company, the China Shipping (Group), for $380m. This company manages ports both within China and overseas. 

  • Nantong stake sold

    14 Oct 2008

    State Development and Investment Corporation subsidiary SDIC Communications plans to sell the 12.32% stake it holds in Nantong Port Group Company. The other two shareholders in the company have first refusal in acquiring the stake.  

  • 3i eyes south India

    10 Oct 2008

    The 3i Group is apparently considering investing up to $219m for a 26% stake in a southern Indian port operator, believed to be Krishnapatnam Port Company, which is developing a deepwater port in Andhra Pradesh. 

  • Vietnamese dredge nod

    05 Oct 2008

    The Vietnamese government is to go ahead with a dredging programme at the Dinh An estuary to allow 10,000 dwt vessels to access the port of Can Tho. The cost of the project will be $14.9m and work, deepening the draft to 5.5 metres, will take three months to complete. 

  • Pakistan goes with the grain

    04 Oct 2008

    Belgium-based Vigan Engineering is to be the major supplier for the new Fauji Abkar Portia Marine Terminals project, a joint programme between the Fauji Foundation and the Akbar Group. 

  • Indira box terminal on

    03 Oct 2008

    Mumbai Port Trust and Indira Container Terminal have signed an agreement to build the $268m offshore container terminal, due to start operation in December 2010. The Port Trust will contribute $80m for dredging, reclamation, and provision of space for rail tracks.  

  • Six new Shenzhen ports

    02 Oct 2008

    The Chinese city of Shenzhen has received backing from the National Development and Reform Commission to build six new ports. These will include facilities at Liantang, Longhua and Dachan Gulf Harbour, and a port to connect the airports of Shenzhen and Hong Kong via an undersea tunnel. 

  • Chittagong concession

    01 Oct 2008

    A 30-year concession to operate the recently built New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port is to be offered to the private sector. 

  • Japanese to build Vietnamese terminals

    29 Sep 2008

    The Cai Mep container terminal and the Thi Vai general cargo terminal at the Vietnamese port of Cai Mep-Thi Vai are to be built by two Japanese joint ventures. Of the total $718m cost of the port, $328.5m will be financed by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, with the Vietnamese government funding the balance. 

  • CMA CGM in Tianjin development

    28 Sep 2008

    CMA CGM subsidiary Terminal Link is to undertake a 50-year joint venture with Tianjin Port Development Holdings (TPDH) and Grand Asia International Shipping to manage a new container terminal at the port of Tianjin. The three-berth facility will be situated in Binhai New Area. Projected investment is $215m, of which TPDH will supply 60%. 

  • Mindanao to ICTSI

    27 Sep 2008

    Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA) has formally handed over Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) to Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc (MICTSI) at a ceremony held at the MCT berthside attended by Phividec officers, shipping lines and local government officials. 

  • 'Green' Asian expansion

    26 Sep 2008

    Arshiya International has ordered seven E-One+ rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes and 10 DRF450 reachstackers, complete with maintenance agreements, from Kalmar. The new 'green' units will initially be deployed at Arshiya’s Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZ) in Mumbai and Delhi. Some of the equipment will eventually be used at three new FTWZs in India and one in the Middle East that are presently on the drawing board. 

  • 100% box scanning for Karachi

    25 Sep 2008

    Following a successful pilot programme at the Pakistani port of Qasim, US officials are now extending measures to scan all US-bound containers at the port of Karachi.  

  • Kochi copes with congestion

    24 Sep 2008

    If a container is left in the stacking yard at the port of Kochi for more than 15 days, it will now automatically be moved to a private container freight station as a congestion-busting measure.  

  • New bids for Chennai box terminal

    24 Sep 2008

    Chennai Port has invited fresh bids for its Mega-Container Terminal after changes to the terms and conditions of the concession pushed the forecast cost up to $787m.  

  • Slowdown in Yangtze Delta

    24 Sep 2008

    Ports in the Yangtze River Delta have reported a slowdown in container throughput growth in the first half of this year.  

  • Haicang project sold

    21 Sep 2008

    Xiamen International Port Company is to sell a project that it is developing in Haicang port to Haicang International Container Terminals Ltd for $59.6m. The project includes Berth 1, which will become a container handling facility. 

  • Colombo South Port development under way

    19 Sep 2008

    Tenders for the new Colombo South Port development are expected to be issued soon. 

  • HPH undeterred by Indian 'confusion'

    17 Sep 2008

    A “confusing” operating climate in India has not deterred Hutchison Port Holdings from considering future investment options in the country, the company has confirmed. 

  • Tanjung Priok branded 'unsafe'

    17 Sep 2008

    Indonesia's director-general of Customs and Excise has branded Tanjung Priok as "unsafe", because unauthorised visitors are able to move freely into the restricted areas, if they are prepared to bribe officials. 

  • No IPO for Ningbo

    17 Sep 2008

    The current weakness of global markets means that China Ningbo Port Group will not undertake an initial public offering this year, according to China Merchants Holdings, which holds a 5.4% stake in the company. The IPO is, however, needed to raise money to fund expansion. 

News Australasia

  • Booking for Bledisloe

    13 Oct 2008

    After successful implementation at the Axis Fergusson Container Terminal, Ports of Auckland’s vehicle booking system is now being introduced to Axis Bledisloe. 

  • Mackay coal pledge

    12 Oct 2008

    The Queensland government has promised residents of Mackay that the port will not be used to export the region’s large reserves of coal. Instead, the exports will be channelled via the existing coal specialist ports of Hay Point, Dalrymple Bay and Abbott Point. Local residents have been concerned at the environmental repercussions of shifting coal through the city centre.  

  • Sydney confused by state intervention

    05 Oct 2008

    Stevedores in Sydney are nonplussed by the intention of their state government to introduce further regulatory controls on ports. 

  • Auckland ranking lift

    30 Sep 2008

    Container Management magazine has lifted Ports of Auckland eight places to 104th in the world for the total volume of teu handled during the 2007 calendar year. 

  • New Zealand profit growth for some ports

    22 Sep 2008

    Recent financial year announcements have included the Port of Tauranga declaring a comparable 7% rise in after-tax net profit to NZ$42.1m (US$27.6m) and 15% lift in revenue to NZ$148.8m (US$97.4m). 

  • Tauranga dispute settled

    17 Sep 2008

    A brief collective employment dispute between the Port of Tauranga and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union has now been resolved. Successful mediation avoided the industrial action previously announced by the union. Details of the deal, which is understood to be for two-years, have been kept confidential. 

  • Auckland moots Tauranga offer

    17 Sep 2008

    Ports of Auckland has announced plans to make an offer for Port of Tauranga’s container business and has appointed investment bank Cameron Partners as financial adviser. 

News Europe

  • PD Ports stirs up UK rail challenge

    24 Oct 2008

    While the north of the UK will see the opening of the Northern Gateway Container Terminal at Teesport in 2011 with a container capacity of 1.5m teu, the capability of the surrounding rail infrastructure may not be up to the job, according to Martyn Pellew, group development director for PD Ports. 

  • Berth number eight for Virtsu

    11 Oct 2008

    Two Estonian construction companies have signed a €5.05m ($7.2m) agreement to build Berth 8 at the port of Virtsu. The contract for a 160 metre long quayside, alongside draft of seven metres and construction of a 280 metre access road is scheduled for completion in October 2009. 

  • Riga engages BMT

    08 Oct 2008

    The Port of Riga, Latvia, has appointed BMT Transport Solutions to assist in its development strategy. This strategy will consider issues such as cargo flow, financial forecasts, and the European Union policy on intermodality as well as community impact, encouraging ecologically clean cargo and ensuring technical capacity within the port.  

  • Russia upgrades Baltic ports

    07 Oct 2008

    More than $2bn will be invested in container and ro-ro facilities at Russia's Baltic ports over the next four years. At present, a significant proportion of this traffic passes through ports in Finland or the Baltic states. The extra investment, it is hoped, will redress the balance. 

  • London Gateway takes shape

    02 Oct 2008

    A joint venture of Laing O’Rourke and Dredging International has signed a contract to transformed the 1,850 acre London Gateway site into the world’s most advanced container port and Europe’s largest logistics park. 

  • Strikes hit Salonika port profit

    26 Sep 2008

    Thessaloniki Port Authority has reported a 34% decrease in first half net profit as a result of a loss of revenue caused by strike action.  

  • Electrifying Euromax

    25 Sep 2008

    The Euromax terminal, operated by Europe Container Terminals (ECT) in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, is now up and running.  

  • Russian operator spins-off port assets

    18 Sep 2008

    N-Trans has transferred its port assets to newly-formed subsidiary, Global Ports Investments (GPI).

     

  • Tuapse stevedores strike to recover $2.9m

    16 Sep 2008

    Following a ruling by a local judge that workers at Tuapse Trading Seaport were being incorrectly paid for nightshift working, stevedores voted with their feet and brought operations to halt for much of the month of August.  

  • Batumi upgrade

    15 Sep 2008

    Batumi International Container Terminal (BICT) has added two new Gottwald mobile harbour cranes (model HMK 260E) to its operations.  

  • Work starts on UK's first deepwater capacity in four years

    10 Sep 2008

    A quayside ceremony featuring three perfectly synchronised earth movers marked the start of construction work on the Port of Felixstowe’s new deepwater container berths.  

News Middle East

  • Kuwait draught is a concern

    29 Sep 2008

    Kuwait Ports Authority has advised the government that access channels to existing port facilities be extensively dredged, since currently these offer a draft of no more than 8.5 metres. Neither Shuwaikh nor Shuaiba ports can accommodate very large containerships. 

  • Basra port reopens

    22 Sep 2008

    Basra's Al-Maaqal port has re-entered service following four months of renovation work. All equipment has been upgraded and quays renovated. 

  • Israelis dockers strike over legal changes

    17 Sep 2008

    Israeli port unions are in a bitter dispute with the government over its plans to privatise port infrastructure.  

News Products & Services

  • Konecranes smashes sales budget

    17 Oct 2008

    A "very good" market for reachstackers has lifted 2008 sales volumes for equipment manufacturer Konecranes Lifttrucks over budget.  

  • Mitsui technology for Malaysia

    08 Oct 2008

    Mitsui is supplying 11 hybrid transtainer units to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. These cranes feature diesel engines which vary the engine speed depending on load, and also have capacitors which charge on lowering the weight. Saved energy can then be used for hoisting the next load. 

  • Big one for Africa

    02 Oct 2008

    Liebherr has delivered the largest mobile harbour crane in Africa to Intel Nigeria. 

  • Three-in-one security from CEM

    01 Oct 2008

    CEM Systems has released a security reader which meets the requirements for three stage identity authentication - card, PIN, and biometric verification - in one device. 

  • More green machines for India

    30 Sep 2008

    Kalmar is to supply 11 of its 'green' E-One+ rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes to Gateway Terminals India (GTI) at Nhava Sheva.. This latest order - due to commence next January - follows on from a contract to supply GTI with 29 E-One RTGs delivered in 2006. 

  • Pick 'n' mix security training

    24 Sep 2008

    With calls for International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) training on the increase, Hamburg Port Training Institute has developed a range of security courses based on a modular system.  

  • Felixstowe marks UK biometric first

    20 Sep 2008

    Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port, has introduced the first biometric system in the UK.  

  • Hamburg Liebherr family grows

    17 Sep 2008

    A second LHM 500 Liebherr mobile harbour crane has been put into operation at the Port of Hamburg for Wallmann & Co.  

  • Open source promises greater collaboration

    13 Sep 2008

    Netherlands-based HITT is poised to release open-source software aimed at simplifying the processing of port data.  

  • An eye for tracking

    10 Sep 2008

    A comprehensive system for vehicle surveillance based on license plate recognition (LPR) and an incident management system has been released by HTS and Rontal.
     

Opinion: Valparaiso

  • Sisters in arms

    03 Oct 2008

    A Chile-China partnership gives Valparaiso boss reason to be cheerful, as Michael Mackey finds out
     

Port Profile: Port Louis

  • Finding its wings

    03 Nov 2008

    Port Louis is making sure that it secures a long term future to evade the threat of extinction. Stevie Knight reports
     

Port Services: Fendering and Mooring

  • CDM standards enforce quality levels

    10 Oct 2008

    In many countries there are regulations covering the fender construction phase, operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning. 

  • Vacuum systems increase market impact

    08 Oct 2008

    Vacuum mooring systems are now generating a lot of market interest and while the number of installed systems is a fraction of the overall market for bollards and quick release mooring hooks, a strong marketing push is being headed by Cavotec MSL.  

  • The horse's mouth

    06 Oct 2008

    Dave MacIntyre learns it's best to go direct to get the definitive line on best fender practise.  

Regional Feature: Indian Ocean Islands

  • Association provides common platform

    31 Oct 2008

    The port authorities of Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion and Seychelles are all members of the Association of Ports of the Indian Ocean Islands (APIOI), which was officially established last year. 

  • Reunion throws its weight behind boxes

    29 Oct 2008

    Port Reunion is looking to increase its transhipment business, and the expansion of its container terminal this year is a key part of this ambition. 

  • Madagascar investment continues

    29 Oct 2008

    Madagascar International Container Terminal at Toamasina, run by Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) through a 20-year concession signed in 2005, is also looking for transhipment; Madagascar International Container Terminal Services (MICTS) has stated its ambitions to be “Africa’s secondary hub”. 

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